Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 1: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether water quality management structures here are adequate in view of the latest report on drinking water from the Environmental Protection Agency; if the investment programme in water infrastructure is being delivered in an efficient and cost effective manner; his strategies to combat e.coli contamination of drinking water supplies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18403/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Some €1.6 billion has been invested by the Government in drinking water infrastructure in the period since 2000 and substantial additional funding is being provided this year from the total Exchequer provision of €500 million for the water services investment programme. In the period since 2000, additional drinking water treatment capacity and additional water storage capacity equivalent to the needs of a population of 855,000 and 1.5 million, respectively, has been provided. A review of the water services investment programme is being undertaken this year to ensure that investment continues to be targeted at priority works. A value for money study on the programme will be also completed this year.

Under the European Communities (Drinking Water) (No. 2) Regulations 2007, water services authority drinking water supplies are subject to supervision by the EPA. Additional resources have been provided to the agency to back up its new enforcement powers. Under these regulations, water services authorities are obliged to ensure that any failure to meet quality standards in a water supply is investigated immediately to determine the cause. My Department has been also working closely with water services authorities, which are generally responsible for the management of public drinking water supplies, and the EPA to ensure that the management structures for the supply of drinking water are of the highest standard.

The recently published report, The Quality of Drinking Water in Ireland - A Report for the Years 2007 and 2008, shows that overall the quality of our drinking water is good and that further progress has been made in improving quality in recent years. The report indicates that the number of detections of e.coli in 2007 was down compared with 2006. To ensure the effectiveness of the disinfection procedures required to remove e.coli from water supplies, the agency has recommended the installation of chlorine monitors and alarms on all water supplies. My Department has been working intensively with local authorities in recent months to ensure that all public and group water supplies are equipped with monitors and alarms. I understand that good progress has been made and the remaining supplies will be equipped in the coming months.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for his reply. The EPA report is a serious indictment of the manner in which people cannot rely on the safety of drinking water in many parts of the country. According to the report 118,000 people had to boil their drinking water last year. Notwithstanding that, the Minister achieved a reasonable level of support from the Government in October for the 2009 Estimates he had shaved a little - some €40 million - off when it came to April. Galway of course has been high profile, but there are other areas that might not have got the attention they deserve. I seek an assurance that the people in areas affected will not need to continue to boil water for drinking or buy bottled water in shops. Fine Gael recently suggested making some investments under the Irish water company that we proposed to establish. Does the Minister have any similar plans? I ask the Minister to study our proposal. If there is an agreement between us on that proposal, would it be of assistance in ensuring that we get more schemes operational in the next year in order to meet our water framework directive requirements that are fast coming down the track?

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I agree with the Deputy that it is very important to invest in good quality drinking water. I consider this as an absolute necessity. In a country such as ours there is no reason for people to be drinking contaminated water. While I accept there have been boil notices, I am pleased that there has been a reduction in the number of such notices. The EPA has identified 341 public water supplies that it has put on its remedial action list. These supplies require detailed profiling from catchment to consumer to determine whether the supply needs to be replaced or upgraded, or where operational practices need to be improved to ensure the water supplied to the general public is clean and wholesome.

That a water supply is on the list does not necessarily mean the water produced by the supply is unsafe to drink. Where a health-related parameter is exceeded, the EPA and the HSE must be notified and follow-up action must be taken. A water supply is included on the remedial action list for one or more of the following reasons: failure to meet the e.coli standard at some point in the past two years; inadequate treatment, for example no treatment other than chlorination, poor turbidity removal or excessive levels of aluminium in the treated water; showing elevated levels of nitrate; being unable to meet the new bromate or THL standards that came into force at the end of 2008; monitoring results or compliance checks by the EPA that indicate a lack of operational control at the treatment plant and the supplies identified by the Health Service Executive where improvements are required. This is the list on which we are working, and I consider it a priority list. We are doing everything we can in this regard.

The Deputy has stated that there was a slight shaving off. While that is true, the most important thing is that, despite very severe economic difficulties, we have increased the budget for water services infrastructure. That will remain the case because water quality is a priority. It is a priority for the people who need to drink water and use it. We also need to do this because we want to avoid fines. I believe the Deputy has raised this matter in committee meetings.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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How many river basin management strategies require to be drawn up? How many have been drawn up to date? When does the Minister expect to complete the rest?

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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That comes under the water framework directive. As the Deputy knows that directive is still out for consultation. As soon as it returns we will have further results in that regard and I would be happy to communicate that information to the Deputy at that time.